CITY OF LAGUNA WOODS CALIFORNIA
CITY COUNCIL MINUTES
REGULAR MEETING
January 19, 2005
2:00 P.M.
Mayor Ross called the Regular Meeting of the City Council of the City of Laguna Woods to order at 2:00 p.m.
Councilmember Ring led the flag salute.
III. ROLL CALL
COUNCILMEMBERS PRESENT: Hack, Ring, Robbins, Bouer, Ross
ABSENT: None
STAFF PRESENT: City Manager Keane; Deputy City Attorney McEwan; City Clerk Condon; Assistant City Manager Reilly; Community Development Director Barr
None
Moved by Councilmember Ring, seconded by Mayor Pro Tem Bouer, and carried unanimously to approve the City Proclamations 5.1 and 5.2.
5.1 Commendation – Saddleback College Health Sciences Building Dedication: February 11, 2005
5.2 Proclamation – “Go Red for Women” Day (American Heart Association) – February 4, 2005
Councilmember Ring requested item 6.6 be removed from the Consent Calendar for discussion.
Moved by Councilmember Ring, seconded by Councilmember Hack, and carried unanimously to approve Consent Calendar items 6.1 through 6.10, excluding item 6.6.
6.1 Approved City Council Minutes from the regular meeting of December 22, 2004.
6.2 Approved the reading by title of all ordinances and resolutions. Said ordinances and resolutions that appear on the public agenda shall be determined to have been read by title only and further reading waived.
6.3 Received and filed December 2004 monthly Treasurer’s Report.
6.4 Approved the January 19, 2005 Warrant Register in the amount of $260,798.43.
6.5 Budget Adjustment for El Toro Reuse Authority (ETRPA) Activities
Approved a $11,500 transfer from the Council Contingency account to the City Council Travel account ($1,500) and ETRPA Membership account ($10,000), and authorized Councilmember Hack to travel to Washington D.C. in February with members of the El Toro Reuse Authority Board of Directors.
6.7 Mid-Year Budget Modifications
A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF LAGUNA WOODS, CALIFORNIA, AMENDING RESOLUTION 04-12 AND THE FISCAL YEAR 2004-2005 BUDGET
6.8 Water Quality Ordinance Implementation Agreement
Approved and authorized the Mayor to execute Amendment Number One to Water Quality Ordinance Implementation Agreement with the Orange County Flood Control District (D03-015)
6.9 Orange County Transportation Authority Combined Transportation Funding Program Applications
Adopted Resolution No. 05-02 entitled:
A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF LAGUNA WOODS, CALIFORNIA, APPROVING THE SUBMITTAL OF FIVE IMPROVEMENT PROJECTS TO THE ORANGE COUNTY TRANSPORTATION AUTHORITY FOR FUNDING UNDER THE COMBINED TRANSPORTATION FUNDING PROGRAM
6.10 Notice of Completion – 2004-2005 Energy Efficient Improvement Project: Installation or Replacement of Heat Pump Units
Item 6.6 removed from Consent Calendar for discussion
6.6 Park Land Dedication and Fee Ordinance
Councilmember Ring advised that at the January 19, 2005 Council meeting, item 6.6 had a public hearing and approval of the first reading of the proposed ordinance. He requested that staff provide an overview of the proposed ordinance.
City Manager Keane provided an overview of the proposed ordinance advised the ordinance, if approved, would be effective in mid-February. A fee resolution will be brought to Council in February. As the public hearing was closed last month, any public comments at this meeting would not be included on the public hearing record.
Chris Trapp, representing the Golden Rain Foundation, stated that the recent letter sent to the Council from Harry Curtis, GRF President, opposed the ordinance. GRF does not see the necessity of the ordinance as GRF feels the City already has the authority to condition new development under the requirements of the UAC. She also expressed GRF’s concern that the ordinance would lessen the value of GRF property.
Harry Curtis, GRF President, acknowledged that Ms. Trapp had accurately outlined the position of GRF. He stated he felt the city must be unique and not compare itself to other cities; he noted that all council members were residents of Leisure World.
Councilmembers agreed they were residents of Leisure World, but as members of the City Council of Laguna Woods they had responsibilities to the City as a whole.
Martin Rhodes, resident, spoke against the ordinance.
Deputy City Attorney Stephen McEwen stated the ordinance clarifies the ambiguity for new apartments or condominiums.
Moved by Councilmember Hack, seconded by Councilmember Robbins, and carried unanimously to approve Consent Calendar item 6.6.
Adopted Ordinance No. 05-01 entitled:
AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF LAGUNA WOODS AMENDING SECTIONS 7-9-523, 7-9-527 AND 7-9-540 AND REPEALING 7-9-343 OF THE LAGUNA WOODS MUNICIPAL CODE PERTAINING TO THE DEDICATION OF PARK LAND AND THE ESTABLISHMENT OF FEES IN LIEU OF PARK DEDICATIONS FOR NEW RESIDENTIAL DEVELOPMENT PROJECTS ON BOTH SUBDIVIDED AND UNSUBDIVIDED LAND
VII. PUBLIC HEARINGS
None
VIII. CITY COUNCIL
8.1 Citizen Advisory Committee Appointments
City Manager Keane reported Council had been provided with a list of nominations and read the names of all nominees with the addition of Dick Robechek (Hack) to the Community Services Committee and Irwin Stuller (Bouer) to the Water Quality Committee.
Moved by Councilmember Robbins, seconded by Mayor Pro Tem Bouer, and carried unanimously to approve the proposed committee nominations.
Councilmember Ring reported there were still five vacancies, three on the Human Relations Committee (Ross, Bouer and Hack), one on the Transportation Advisory Committee (Ring) and one on the Water Quality Committee (Ring) and encouraged residents to contact City Hall.
8.2 City Council Elections – Cost for Candidate Ballot Statements (agendized by Councilmember Ring)
City Manager Keane noted that twelve local cities charge their candidates the complete cost received from the county for printing a candidate statement. Councilmember Ring advised the City currently charges $100 for a candidate statement to be printed in the ballot package. He discussed the cost that other organizations charge for printing candidate statements. He recommended the charge be increased to $250 and for staff to bring back a recommendation at the next meeting. Mayor Ross stated she felt it should be more. City Manager Keane advised that with the direction from Council, staff will bring back alternate proposals at the next meeting.
8.3 City Support for Medicaid (agendized by Mayor Ross)
Mayor Ross advised that she had received a request from Families USA to send a letter to President Bush requesting no changes to the Medicaid health program.
Moved by Councilmember Robbins and seconded by Mayor Pro Tem Bouer. Councilmember Ring requested a change to the first sentence and instead of saying no change, that the sentence request no reduction in the benefits but improve the effectiveness of the program. Councilmember Robbins amended his motion, seconded by Mayor Pro Tem Bouer and the amended motion was unanimously carried to send the letter to President Bush.
9.1 Orange County Transportation Authority Senior Mobility Grant – Special Destination Taxi Vouchers
City Manager Keane briefly discussed the background on the Senior Mobility Grant and the special destination taxi vouchers. The special destination taxi vouchers are authorized only through the end of January 2005. City Manager Keane recommended the special destination taxi vouchers be extended through the fiscal year, June 30, 2005.
City Manager Keane also briefly discussed the Non-Emergency Medical Program and advised this program is scheduled to end on March 31, 2005. The Office on Aging intends to contract with a regional organization to provide medical transportation services beginning in April for trips under 15 miles. Sufficient funding is available to modify the Senior Mobility program to provide a “gap” medical transportation program for trips over 15 miles and to continue to serve ACCESS clients through the end of the current fiscal year. Sufficient funding may not be available beyond that point and staff will bring back program recommendations during the budget process for review.
Moved by Councilmember Hack, seconded by Councilmember Robbins and carried unanimously to approve extending the Senior Mobility special destination taxi voucher program through June 30, 2005.
9.2 Orange County Transportation Authority Combined Transportation Funding Program Application for Golf Cart Path
City Manager Keane advised that staff is requesting approval to submit an application to the OCTA for $200,000 in Transportation Demand Management funds which would be used for design and constriction of a public portion of a golf cart trail along El Toro Road. Assistant City Manager Reilly provided an overview of the golf cart trail. Both the Golf Cart Transportation Plan subcommittee and the Transportation Advisory Committee voted unanimously to recommend approval of the resolution by the City Council.
Discussion was held regarding adding other golf cart paths. Assistant City Manager advised the resolution could be amended to indicate El Toro Road/Moulton Parkway golf cart paths.
Moved by Councilmember Robbins, seconded by Mayor Pro Tem Bouer and carried unanimously to approve amended Resolution No. 05-03 entitled
A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF LAGUNA WOODS APPROVING THE SUBMITTAL OF ONE IMPROVEMENT PROJECT TO THE ORANGE COUNTY TRANSPORTATION AUTHORITY FOR FUNDING UNDER THE COMBINED TRANSPORTATION FUNDING PROGRAM
Deputy City Attorney McEwan reported everything is fine.
XII. COMMITTEE REPORTS
12.1 El Toro Reuse Planning Authority (Councilmember Hack)
Councilmember Hack provided an update on continued attempts to convert El Toro to a commercial airport and advised he would be traveling to Washington DC.
12.2 Orange County Corridor Authorities (Councilmember Hack)
Councilmember Hack provided an update.
12.3 Vector Control District (Mayor Pro Tem Bouer)
Mayor Pro Tem Bouer advised Vector Control is doing fine.
12.4 Library Board (Councilmember Robbins)
Councilmember Robbins advised there was no meeting.
12.5 Orange County Fire Authority (Mayor Ross)
Mayor Ross reported the Orange County Leadership Symposium had been rescheduled for March.
12.6 Laguna Canyon Foundation (Councilmember Ring)
Councilmember Ring provided a brief update on current projects.
12.7 Coastal Greenbelt Authority (Councilmember Ring)
Councilmember Ring reported a meeting is scheduled for tomorrow.
XII. PUBLIC COMMENTS
None
XIII. CITY COUNCIL COMMENTS AND ANNOUNCEMENTS
Councilmembers Hack reported potholes on several streets and City Manager Keane advised they are on the list and Orange County, which handles our street repairs, will be making repairs as soon as possible
XIV. CLOSED SESSION
The meeting was adjourned at 3:40 p.m. The next Regular Meeting of the City Council will be held at 2:00 p.m. on February 16, 2005 at LagunaWoodsCity Hall, 24264 El Toro Road, Laguna Woods, CA
____________________________________________
SUSAN M. CONDON, City Clerk
Adopted: February 16, 2005
______________________________________________
BRENDA B. ROSS, Mayor
